The Dragon's Path Group Read discussion

So it becomes clear during this week's section that Dawson is on the wrong side of history. Does this change your opinion of him?

He is, in the joking words of one or another noble, a "hidebound conservative" who maintains without question an oppressive and exploitive society, and one of those aristocrats that automatically thinks the merchant class is utterly beneath him. He is also honorable, kind to his wife, and a seemingly good person. If Dawson were not a viewpoint character, we would almost certainly cheer for Issandrian.

Thoughts?

I totally agree. It's very hard reading some of his opinions, comparing people to dogs and saying that everyone had the place and they better make sure they stay there.
I do hope he will cop on a bit but honestly I don't see happening. He is a total product of his class and society and nothing I can see at this stage will convince him he is wrong.

I don't find him a bad character or on the negative side. He is only a representation of the society we experience in Antea and an image of the world created by Daniel Abraham. True, I am not a fan of his, Dawson is the least likeable character of the four, but he moves the story forward. We are shown a change to be made on a long-running system of government, a way of living and the principles of the old opposed to the new, younger generation and the way they see the things moving. It is a very nice touch to the story. A conflict, a different approach for the general story and setting of the novel and a development of the said novel through political scheming and conspiracy.

I find him to be likable but ignorant. He absolutely believes he's doing the right things for the right reasons. At this point I still have hope that he may start to see things differently, especially regarding those who are not nobles.

Dawson.....well I think e wants to do the right thing. Does Issandrian? Is he right? In the sense that there has to order in the midst of chaos, yes. In the value he places on the ruling class, no. I haven't lost hope in him, at least not yet.

I was rather surprised when his opinions about lower class people became clear, simply because his position of POV character tricked me into expecting him to be a 'good' guy. I suppose I now know better and have a much greater respect for Mr Abraham's writing.

I agree with Mihai that I am not sure that he is actually a 'bad' person, but I can't agree with his attitudes. As with Geder, I think we will continue to struggle with deciding where we stand about him and his actions. They are both doing what they think is the right thing, so they are not 'evil' per se, but it will be interesting to see how they will be judged by the other characters as we continue.

I don't think Dawson is "bad," nor is he meant to be. I have a lurking suspicion that Abraham chuckled the whole time he wrote these parts, knowing the effect they would have on his egalitarian readers.

Well, I don't think it's a surprise to find Dawson holds these views given his privileged upbringing, wealth and status - I'm sure he'd have a different opinion if he was one of the lowly masses struggling to survive on a daily basis. He's used to others running around at his beck and call, he's used to not having to hold in his temper and he views things in a fairly simple black and white fashion. Do I think he's a bad character? No, not really. Just set in his ways (and at the end of the day it benefits him to be this way). He may not admit it aloud to others but he seems to at least recognise when he's made a mistake about something. He clearly cares very much for his wife. He doesn't seem to have sinister motives in terms of the King and he isn't cowardly or dishonourable. I can't say I dislike him - I just don't agree with him.

Dawson is fascinating because there are both aspects to him I like and dislike. Dogs, pumpkin farmers, and women do not have set places in society in my current culture, but Dawson comes from a place where that has been the status quo for a very long time. It will be interesting to see if his wife and perhaps body guard, Vincen Coe, will be given the opportunity to show him that the world may not be so set in stone.